The Real GHIBLI World & Museum is Must-Visit Landmarks for Fans

Everybody knows that the films by the Studio Ghibli are the best known animation around the world. If you are a big fan of the Ghibli films, you may dream of joining the world beyond the screen. Hayao Miyazaki, a main director of Studio Ghibli, has been inspired by all over the world including Japan of course. Japan has many places closely related to the films. Let’s look for TOTORO!!

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My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Copyright: ciatr.jp

This is one of the most popular films in Studio Ghibli. The forest where Mei and Satsuki run around is relatively close to the center of Tokyo unexpectedly. That is Sayama Hills, spreading from South-West of Saitama Prefecture to North-West of Tokyo Metropolis.

Princess Mononoke (1997)

Copyright: retrip.jp

The story is set in Muromachi Period (approximately 1336 to 1573) of Japan as fiction. Hayao Miyazaki had been inspired by Shirataniunsuikyo( 白谷雲水峡), the mysterious forest in Yakushima. You can go there from Kagoshima Prefecture by airplane or cruise. Once you step into the forest, you feel as if you took a wander into the Mononoke World.

Spirited Away (2001)

As is widely said, the setting is Taiwan. However, according to another theory, the director made the movie by looking at Dogo Hot spring town (道後温泉)in Ehime Prefecture as well as Taiwan. The atmosphere seems very close to the film.

GHIBLI MUSEUM, MITAKA

You can’t find the contents until you actually enter the museum by yourself. But you will fully enjoy the familiar Ghibli world, and even kids who haven’t watched any Ghibli films will come to love the fairy-tale atmosphere. Fortunately, they have a special exhibition this year in commemoration of the 15th anniversary.